Many of the casual sports players are guilty of skipping their warmup. Some believe a warmup is needed only by the professional players playing at high intensity. And they couldn’t be further from the truth. Here is why each and every sports activity must necessarily start with an appropriate warmup.
A warmup increases blood flow to your working muscles. Increased blood flow means a higher supply of energy and more supple muscles and tissues. Muscles are able to burn more energy that increases the muscle, blood and hence body temperature. Muscles work best at 40 degree, better preparing them for the impending additional workload. Increased blood temperature allows you to work out longer or harder. Higher temperature also facilitates nerve transmission and muscle metabolism. A specific warm up can facilitate motor unit recruitment required in subsequent all out activity.
As we will see, this positively impacts many different aspects of your performance.
Higher Blood Flow
Increased Body Temperature
Prime Nerve-Muscle Pathways
The increased muscle temperature does wonders. It improves muscle elasticity allowing muscular joints to move through a greater range of motion easily and safely. Which means
Increased body temperature causes blood vessels to dilate (expand). This avoids a rapid increase in blood pressure and reduces stress on your heart so you don’t feel breathless. It is always prudent to prepare your heart gradually for an increase in activity.
Improved blood flow increase the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. Higher muscle temperature weakens the bond between heamoglobin and oxygen, making more oxygen available for energy. This prevents you from getting out of breath to early or too easily. Basically improving your endurance.
The improved neural transmission results in faster message relay from the brain. Increased muscle elasticity affords greater economy of movement because of lowered viscous resistance within warmed muscles. Higher oxygen availability make faster expansions and contractions possible. These factors put together help you improve hand-eye-brain co-ordination and reaction time.
A warmup improves the lubrication in your joints for easier (and less painful) movement.
-Grand Heidrich
By activating the heat-dissipation mechanisms in the body (efficient sweating) an athlete can cool efficiently and help prevent overheating early in the event or race.
Your body increases its production of various hormones responsible for regulating energy production. During warm-up this balance of hormones makes more carbohydrates and fatty acids available for energy production.
Help mentally prepare you for the workout ahead, giving you a few minutes to get “pumped up” for a great workout! The warm-up is also a good time to mentally prepare for an event by clearing the mind, increasing focus, reviewing skills and strategy. Positive imagery can also relax the athlete and build concentration.
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Occasional Tournaments will give you a Permanent Edge
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